[Posted by Chuck Almdale]

Link to article: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/prehistoric-life/rehistoric-ancestors-todays-animals

Long before evolution downsized them, these giant prehistoric ancestors roamed the Earth, giving rise to the animals we know today. From giant apes that may have crossed paths with our early ancestors, to sloths the size of small trucks, these prehistoric heavyweights reveal just how much evolution can reshape life over time. Some vanished completely, leaving only fossils and legends behind. Others live on in smaller, humbler descendants – grazing in meadows, prowling savannahs or lazing in tropical treetops. Here are 6 of the most extraordinary giants that once roamed the Earth – and the modern animals that trace their lineage back to them.